Improvement in sewing-machines



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GALEB CA-DWELL, 0F VAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEWING-MACHINES.

VSpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 45,972, dated Janna-ry 24, 1865.

' To all whom it may concern:

' do hereby declare the following to bewa full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, mal;- ing part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is a sectional elevation of a sewinginachine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same in the line x x, Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a section in the line y y. Figs. i and 5 illustrate by detached views the feed apparatus.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several iigures.

This invention relates to a sewing-machine embracing novel mechanism adapted to perform its work in a vvery efficient and rapid manner, the details of its construction and operation being hereinafter laid down.

In order that others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains may be enabled to fully understand and use the same, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.' j

In Ithe accompanying drawings, A represents the pedestal or foot-support, at one end of which is a strong frame, A', composed of two or more pieces, and made hollow for the reception of the driving-wheels B B', both of which are keyed upon a horizontal shaft, B2, havingits journals in the sides of theframeA.

C is the working-table, and D an upper arm or support, which are rigidly secured to and project in the same direction from the frame A.

'Ihe frame Amaycover all the driving mechanism, with the exception of the main drivin gwheel B, a portion of which is exposed and made to project slightly for the purpose of turning it by hand to initiate the operation of the machine.

The working-table C constitutes a casing to contain the shuttle E, the mechanism for operating the same,`the thread-catcher F, the loop-former, and needle-protector Gr, and the mechanism for'operating the feed-surface I-I. The shuttle E is moved forth and back longitudinallywithin the working-table U byaslide, E', which, through the medium of a crankshaped link, e, is connected to an arm,'E2, inclosed within the frame A', and provided with a pin, c2, which, circulating in a cam-groove formed in the front face of the driving-wheel B, actuates the arm E2 in such a way as to produce the requisite reciprocatory movement of the slide E.

The manner in which the shuttle performs its function, being well understood, need not be particularly adverted to, and the construction and means for operating the bar or threadcatcher F being the feature of novelty, in connection with the devices for locking the stitch,

I will limit my description thereto. The office ofthe bar F is to catch the loop ofthe needlethread the moment the shuttle E commences its passage through the same and guide it around the front side of the shuttle to cause the latter to pass properly through, and for this purpose the extremity of the bar F is formed-with a iinger, j', which retains theloopthread, and at the Sametime vI'novesin a groove, e3, formed in the shuttle.

On the end of the bar F is an upwardly-projectin g pin, f', which is actuated by the sides ot' a groove, e', in the slide E', which groove is so formed that the pin f', moving therein, carries the catch or tingerf of the bar F along the oblique part of the shuttle E, the catch and shuttle moving in opposite directions. When during the advance motion of the shuttle the pin f' reachestheouter terminus of the groove .e the catch j' of the bar F has traversed the oblique part of the shuttle, and has arrived at the straight front side thereof, at which stage the pin j" and thread-catcher F become stationary, in order that the latter may retain the loop-thread in an immovable position while the shuttle is passed through the'loop. The loop is drawn up after the passage of the shuttle in customary manner. When the shuttle is retracted the groove actuates the pin f in such a way that the catch f of the bar F is made to assnmea position at the point of the shuttle, so as to again catch and guide a loop in the manner described, and thus the operation continues. The shuttle E is held in proper position by a bar, E2, which is pivoted to the slide E', and may be turned up to admit of the removal ofthe shuttle for a supply of thread, the top of the table C being detachable to render the operating parts accessible.

The bar G, against which the shuttle moves, contains the eye g, in which the needle I works, and also a niche or narrow recess,g, (see Fig.

3,) which extends from the eye g to the shuttle side of the bar G, and is of proper length vertically to permit the loop to form therein. As the eye g is only large enough to contain the needle at the part where the recess g' occurs, the thread enters the said recess as the needle descends, and as the needle ascends and the thread slackens the inevitable result is the formation ofa loop within the recess g'. The loop is partly projected beyond the shuttle-surface ot' the bar G, so that the shuttle will pass through it with the locking-thread in the manner described. rlhe bar G is of such thickness that when the needle is in the eye g it is eft'ectually protected against any accidental strain. 4

The needle-bar I has a vertical reciprocatory motion given it by a lcrank-arm, J, pivoted to the arm D at j, and provided at its lower extremity with a pin, j', which traversesa camgroove, b, in the rear face ofthe driving-wheel B, so that as this wheel revolves the crankarm J will be vibrated in such a way as to actuate the needle at proper intervals, the connection between the crank-arm J and needlebar I' being made by means of a jointed rod, J', and a lug, I2. The needle-bar I' moves in guides 7s 7s on a vertical frame, K, which is secured to the end ofthe arm D, and supported by the latter.

L is a bar held ain vertical position against the frame K by suitable guide-straps, and carrying at its lower end a plate, L', between which and the feed-surface H the cloth is held to the action of the needle. By means ofa pivoted cam, M, formed in one piece with a lever, M', and working on the top of the frame K, the bar L, with the plate L', may be adjusted vertically to suit the work. A spiral spring', m, hooked at one end to theframeA 7c and at the other to the bar L, retains the plate L in proper position to hold the work, but allows the plate to yield to the requisite degree. The feed-surface H is on the end of a bar, H', having a slot, h, through which passes a screw, h', whereby the bar H' is pivoted to the under side of the table C in such a way that the feedsurface may be moved in any required direction. The motion ofthe feed-surface is governed by the position of a block, h3, within the aperture h2, which is formed with a series ot' notches, any two of which, located at opposite sides ot' the aperture, maybe occupied by corresponding projections on the block 71,2. By adjusting the block h3 therequisite motion may be imparted to the feed to enable the user to quilt in squares or diamonds. A circular motion is imparted to the block h3 by a circular block, H2, in the upper face ot which are formed notches disposed in the form of a cross, (see Fig. 4,) and occupied by a projectiolnhi, on the under side of the block h3, which latter is adjusted upon the circular block H2, according to its position within the aperture h2.

Areciprocatingrotary movementisimparted to the circular block H2 by arod, H3, connected by means of a vibrating screw, H4, and frame H5 to a bar, H, which is driven by a bar, N, working in a cam-groove, b', in the rear face of the wheel B'. A vertical movement is given the circular block H2 by a rotating circular block, H2, moving upon a similar stationary circular block, H8, the contiguous faces of the two blocks H7 H8 being matched in such a way that as the block H7 is turned by the reciprocating bar H2 it is caused to alternately assume a higher and lower position. The form of the blocks HT H8 and the manner in which they operate are clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The reciprocating bar H2 is jointed to a rod, O, which is moved by acam-groove in the front face ol' the wheel B'. By the screw H4 the end of the bar H3 may be adjusted so as to vary the extent of rotation ot' the circular block H2, and thus regulate the length ot' the stitches. The feed-bar H rests directly upon the circular block H2, and thus-receives its vertical movement.

The block h3 may be adjusted in the aperture h2 by means of a shaft, h5, projecting downward through the circular blocks H2 H" H, and through the bottom of the workingtable G.

P is a pivoted bar, having at its lower end an eye through which the thread passes from the spool Q .to the needle. Upon the same pivot with the bar P isa tlip`per,77 B', which is struck by a projection, lc', during the upward and downward movement of the needlebar 1'. rlhe upward stroke ot' the projection 7c' raises the iiipper without stirring the bar P; but when the iiipper is struck by the projection 7c' in its downward movement the lower end ot' the bar l? is thrown out, so as to take up the slack thread. The spool Q is placed upon a spindle, Q', and, with the latter, is supported on a tension-frame, Q2, which is mounted upon a post or spindle, Q2, inserted into the arm D.

Q4L is a spring, adjustable within the frame Q2 by a-set-screw, 5, and employed to regulate the tension of the thread. The tensionframe, with its appurtenances, may be slipped oft' and on the spindle Q3 with facility.

B is an arm pivoted upon the end of the arm D, which projects over the driving-wheel B, and having attached to it a frame, R', which is provided with a friction-wheel, B2, secured upon a spindle-shaft, and also with a thumbscrew, R3. The arm R may be turned down to the position indicated by red lines in Fig. .1, so as to bring the wheel R2 in contact with the periphery of the wheel B.

A spring, S, acting upon the projecting part r ot' the arm R, holds the wheel R against the driving-wheel B with sufcient force to insure the rotation of the former simultaneously with thatof the latter. After the thread has been wound upon the spool the winding apparatus is turned up out of contact with the drivingwheel B, the spring S retaining said apparatus in its upper as well as in its working position. Y The driving-shaft B2 of the wheels B B' is rotated by a suitable crank-connection with the 'lowing is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The slide E', having a groove e to actuate v the pin f' on the thread-catcher Fj, which guides the thread around the shuttle, substantially as described.

2. The pivoted bar P, for taking up the slack thread when operating, in combination with the flipper P and projection 7c', in the manner herein set forth.

3. The tension device @Q4 Q5 and the pin Q for the spool, all mounted upon the spindle Q3 on the arm D, so that they maybe removed and replaced at will.

' et. The adjustable block h3 and circular block H2, in combination with the notched aperture for imparting a variable movement to the feedsuriace H, the whole being operated by means substantially as herein described. A

5. The combination ofthe circular blocks H7 H8, the former, H7, being' moved vertically by turning on the latter, H8, so as to raise and lower the feed-surface in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

6. The thread-winding apparatus R R R2 R3 1', operating in connection with a spring, S, whereby it is held down to work in connection with the dri`ving-whee1 B, or retained out ot' contact therewith, as stated.

GALEB CADWELL. Witnesses:

E. M. HAINES, G. E. GADwELL. 

